Lubricating means for gearing



J1me 1933. J. E. ANDERSSON LUBRICAT ING MEANS FOR GEARING Filed Dec. 12, 1931 Patented June *6, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE m ELOI ANDERSSON, OI SALTSJ'O-J'ABLA, Hm STOOKHOLI, SWEDEN, ASBIGHOB 1'0 DE LAVAL 8M TURBINE GOIPANY, 01' TBENTON, NEW JERSEY, A. GJBPO- BATION 01' NEW JERSEY wanrcarme Imus roR GEABING Application filed December 12, 1981, Serial No. 580,718, and in Sweden September 11, 1831.

This invention relates to lubricating particularly adapted to means for gearinfg reduction gears runnmg the lubrication 0 in oil.

In connection with gear reducing systems with forced feed lubrication, where the space is limited, there often arises the difficulty that sufiicient, headroom cannot be obtained to allow the oil to drain from the gear easing into the drain tank for lubricating oil. This applies particularly to installations on board ships where consideration must be given to the rolling of the vessel. When the oil is not properly removed from the gear casing serious difficulties arise particularly in connection with gears operating at high periphery velocity such as turbine reduction gearing. On account of the frictional resistance that develops when the wheel is running in oil the oil is beaten up into a hot foam which fills up the whole system, leaks out of the bearings, etc. As a rule when this foaming occurs it is necessary to shut down the entire unit.

lin accordance with the present invention provision is made for properly removing the oil from the gears without however requiring the provision of a large amount of head room. Specifically the invention comprises the provision of a shield for one or more of the ears, preferably for the lower parts thereo which shield is arranged in such manner and at such distance from the periphery of the gear wheel that the oil in the space between the gear and the shield is brought up over the edge of the shield by the rotation of the wheel and is drained out throu h an opening to a drainage tank before curning can occur.

Specific objects of the invention relating particularly to details of construction will he apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which: 4 I

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view illustrating -one modification of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line H of Fi l; and

' ig. 3-is a similar sectional view illusm trating another modification.

Referring first to Fig.1, two" gears of a reduction chain are indicated at 2 and ire spectively, the former of these being a small pinion and the latter a large gear which may, for example, be of the herringbone type. A multipart casing encases these gears comprising an upper portion 6 surrounding the large gear and covered by a housing 8 which provides a closure over the small pinion. The part 6 surmounts an en larged casing 10 beneath which is located the bottom portion 12 of the casing provided with an oil outlet 14. The various parts of the casing are bolted together and may be of any suitable construction.

Located within the casing-is a shield 16 pressure is introduced through t e inlet 18 75 to the gear wheels at approximately the point where they mesh.

By reason of the construction just described the gear wheel in its rotation will deliver the oil from the interiorof the shield 16 upwardly and over the edge of the shield from which point itmay flow to the outlet 14 and" thence to a suitable drainage tank. Because of the substantially positive feed of oil the thin layer of lubricating oil will not be beaten up into a foam.

A modified arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 3. In this case instead of the part 10 of the casing there is provided a small intermediate part 20 to which is secured the trough-like bottom 22 which functions not only as a bottom of the casing but also as the shield, being spaced from the periphery of the large gear 4 by a very slight clearance similarly to the shield 16. In thisarrangement two outlets 2d may be rovided on opposite sides of the gear w eel to permit draining oil of the oil irrespective of the direction in which the ear wheel 4 is rotating. In the former modi cation the construction is such as to permit the use of a single outlet.

It will be obvious that numerous modifications may be provided without departin from the spirit of the invention as define in the following claims.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a casin providing a lubricant well, a palr of big speed ears meshing within the casing, means for eeding lubricant to the gears at their contact, one of the gears extending downwardly below normal levels of lubricant within said well, and a member forming a trough'receiving said gear, the bottom of the trough extending closely adjacent the periphery of said gear whereby its rotation produces movement of lubricant along said bottom and over the edge of the trough, the rim of the trough being above normal levels of lubricant in the well, whereby the trough shields said ear f om lubricant in the well.

2. n combination, a casing providing a lubricant well, a pair of high speed ars meshing within the casing, means for eeding lubric-wntto the gears at their contact,

one of the gears extending downwardly below normal levels of lubricant-within said well, and a member forming a trough reciving said gear, the bottom of the trough extending closely adjacent the peripher of said gear whereby its rotation pro uces movement of lubricant along said bottom and over the edge of the trough, the rim of the trough being above normal levels of lubricant in the well, whereby the trough shields said ear from lubricant in the well, said trough the casing.

In test mony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at Saltsjo-Jarla, Sweden, on this 16th da of November, 1931.

J OHAN ELO ANDERSSON.

iorming, in part, the bottom of 

